NBA Entertainment used a Snell & Wilcox Ukon universal format conversion platform to cross-convert HD broadcast signals of the recent NBA basketball finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Jersey Nets.

Ukon is designed for broadcast, post and production environments where images need to be converted in all directions between standard and high definition environments, either singularly or in any combination.

The signals were cross-converted from 720p to 1080i at the venues in San Antonio, Tex., and East Rutherford, N.J. in NBA Entertainment’s mobile truck prior to being recorded onto Haddam. The tapes were then sent to NHK, a leading Japanese broadcast network headquartered in Tokyo, where the NBA Finals were broadcast in 1080i HD throughout Japan.

Ukon is designed for broadcast, post and production environments where images need to be converted in all directions between standard and high definition environments, either singularly or in any combination.

Ukon also offers aspect ratio conversion with tilt, pan and zoom; time-code conversion with precise frame mapping; comprehensive audio handling; and 3:2 cadence detection and repair. Ukon carries out all these functions at the same time in a single pass.